Berger: Schumacher should do 'as he likes'

He thinks Michael Schumacher is too old to be at the very front in Formula One, but Gerhard Berger does not begrude his old rival his second career.

Schumacher, the 42-year-old seven time world champion, has come in for a barrage of criticism lately but Berger - who shared the track with the German in the 90s - thinks he is doing well for a racer of advancing years.

"Sure he was disatisfied," Austrian Berger, referring to the Turkish Grand Prix two weeks ago, said in Barcelona, where he is attending his first F1 event for a year.

"But Schumacher is 42 and he can't expect to be the same as a 25-year-old.

"For a 42-year-old, he is doing a great job. He will always run in the top ten in formula one, but quite simply it is the time for the younger ones," Berger told the German broadcaster Sky.

Schumacher might be a few tenths behind, but Berger thinks he still deserves a seat.

"I am happy he is still there. For so many years he gave so many good races that really, now, he can do as he likes. As long as there are teams that want him to be there, everything's fine.

"Why should we say he should quit?" asked Berger.

Meanwhile, he admitted he was offered the chance of playing a very significant role in the current management of formula one.

"Jean (Todt) asked if I wanted to take care of formula one," revealed Berger. "My life has been racing but I'd rather stay in the box and on the track and think about the right strategies than about the right politics."